IGDI Tests for Reading Corps

I would like to explain a little bit about what the IGDI's are and what the numbers mean. IGDI stands for Individual Growth and Development Indicators. The three year olds are tested in 3 areas: Rhyming, Alliteration (beginning with the same sound) and Picture Naming. They are also given a letter name assessment that is not timed. The IGDI's don't necessarily test if your child can rhyme or name a picture or hear the beginning sound. It is testing to see how fast they can process that information. Processing information is a key factor in learning to read. When we look at a word, we need to see it, process it and then say it. Children who aren't reading yet do this in other ways, such as with pictures. They need to look at the picture, find the word in their mind and then say it. If your child scored a low score or a 0 in Rhyming or Alliteration, that does not mean that they are unable to do that task. It means that they were unable to do so quickly. These skills take a lot of practice to master. By the end of the year, 3 year olds should be able to reach the following goals:

Picture Naming: 26 pictures named correctly in 1 minute
Rhyming: Identify 7 rhymes in 2 minutes
Alliteration: Identify 4 words (pictures) in 2 minutes that start with the same sound

Things you can do to help:
Read to your child! 
Point out pictures, name them, have your child name pictures
Play a rhyming game - Do ball and call rhyme? Do ball and cat rhyme?
Sing Nursery Rhymes and point out the rhyming words
Find or make up funny alliterative sentences: Funny fish fly forward.
Play a matching game - make sure you are naming the pictures, not just saying if they match.

Try to avoid flash cards and formal sit-down sessions. Make it short and fun! Learning with your child should be fun!

These same principals apply to learning math skills. Count the cars you pass on the road, count the leaves on a plant. Have them find numbers in books or on packages at the grocery store. Look for numbers on signs. Have a race to see who can find the number 1 first or the number 10 etc. Point out different shapes and colors that you see.  Don't forget the colors GRAY, BLACK and BROWN. They are the most frequently missed colors. Have a shape scavenger hunt! Who can find a rectangle? (doorway, window, tv), Who can find a triangle etc. RECTANGLE, TRIANGLE and DIAMOND are the most frequently missed shapes.

Most importantly, no matter what you are doing, HAVE  FUN DOING IT!!